The US puzzles me. It seems like you guys are trying to ban everything from Soda to toys because of the potential harm they may cause. I even heard that microwaves have a safety label on them after some woman tried to dry her cat in one, then there was that whole "sue McDonalds for having hot coffee" business. Yet, somehow you guys still insist on having easily accessible guns and wonderful products like this. Because that's obviously the safest place for your shotgun to be, at arms reach for sleepy papa, little Timmy and even Fido. I know the world is full of absurd crap like this, but I just don't get it.

This buckyball thing really upsets me because it's a very clear case of the nanny state gone too far. Here's a product that was never intended for children, is very clearly labeled that it's not for children, and the company that makes it has always been vigilant about keeping it away from children (refusing to sell it to stores that display it in the same aisle as children's toys, etc), but thanks to a handful of negligent parents who let their kids play with them anyway it has to be banned from anyone anywhere. That's insane. Adults can play with magnets without swallowing them. It's not that hard.

I feel like some bureaucrat was bored and decided to randomly do something to justify his position so now we all have to suffer. It's that arbitrary.

The US puzzles me. It seems like you guys are trying to ban everything from Soda to toys because of the potential harm they may cause. I even heard that microwaves have a safety label on them after some woman tried to dry her cat in one, then there was that whole "sue McDonalds for having hot coffee" business. Yet, somehow you guys still insist on having easily accessible guns and wonderful products like this. Because that's obviously the safest place for your shotgun to be, at arms reach for sleepy papa, little Timmy and even Fido. I know the world is full of absurd crap like this, but I just don't get it.

The sueing for the hot coffee was legit. They should have been sued, not because the woman spilled it on herself, but because of the temperature of the coffee. They kepted (EDIT: kepted,, really Star? Really. Drink more tea before posting). the coffee as such a scalding heat, that the lady who spilled it on her lap had her flesh practically melt off. I saw a picture of the damage, not a pretty sight.

The US puzzles me. It seems like you guys are trying to ban everything from Soda to toys because of the potential harm they may cause. I even heard that microwaves have a safety label on them after some woman tried to dry her cat in one, then there was that whole "sue McDonalds for having hot coffee" business. Yet, somehow you guys still insist on having easily accessible guns and wonderful products like this. Because that's obviously the safest place for your shotgun to be, at arms reach for sleepy papa, little Timmy and even Fido. I know the world is full of absurd crap like this, but I just don't get it.

I don't think of it as particularly absurd. The the rest of the developed world is banning everything from soda to toys because of potential harm they may cause, the US is simply following suit but not allowing the nanny state to over-extend itself in regards to one particular category. Frankly, I'm happy the citizens of the US (or rather, the citizens of certain states in the US) put their foot down there.

EDIT: If it seems any more consistent to you, the area trying to ban large sodas (NYC) has some of the most strict gun laws in the country.

Quote from: Kevadu

I feel like some bureaucrat was bored and decided to randomly do something to justify his position so now we all have to suffer. It's that arbitrary.

I can't help but wonder if the government coming down on Buckyballs so hard had something to do with them being the first company to contest a ruling in over a decade. It smells of trying to make an example of them.

This buckyball thing really upsets me because it's a very clear case of the nanny state gone too far.

Fuckin seriously. It really is retarded nanny state bs. Reminds me of the South Park episode where a woman gets sucked down the toilet so now all the toilets get bars put across them so you don't fall in. They went above and beyond telling people that there were not kids toys and it still didn't matter.

Quote from: Kevadu

I feel like some bureaucrat was bored and decided to randomly do something to justify his position so now we all have to suffer. It's that arbitrary.

Agreed. I feel like someone was probably running acting and yelling like Helen Lovejoy.

The US puzzles me. It seems like you guys are trying to ban everything from Soda to toys because of the potential harm they may cause. I even heard that microwaves have a safety label on them after some woman tried to dry her cat in one, then there was that whole "sue McDonalds for having hot coffee" business. Yet, somehow you guys still insist on having easily accessible guns and wonderful products like this. Because that's obviously the safest place for your shotgun to be, at arms reach for sleepy papa, little Timmy and even Fido. I know the world is full of absurd crap like this, but I just don't get it.

The sueing for the hot coffee was legit. They should have been sued, not because the woman spilled it on herself, but because of the temperature of the coffee. They kepted the coffee as such a scalding heat, that the lady who spilled it on her lap had her flesh practically melt off. I saw a picture of the damage, not a pretty sight.

Indeed it was. She had tons of first degree burns and had to have many skingraph surgeries to repair her skin. To this day, I would bet the majority of Americans still mistakenly believe it was a frivolous lawsuit thanks to all the news this case received back then. There's a documentary about it and similar cases, I'm pretty sure.

And she originally asked McDonalds for a pretty small amount of money ($20,000 if I remember correctly), to cover medical expenses and such. She only asked for more money when they totally blew her off.

The US puzzles me. It seems like you guys are trying to ban everything from Soda to toys because of the potential harm they may cause. I even heard that microwaves have a safety label on them after some woman tried to dry her cat in one, then there was that whole "sue McDonalds for having hot coffee" business. Yet, somehow you guys still insist on having easily accessible guns and wonderful products like this. Because that's obviously the safest place for your shotgun to be, at arms reach for sleepy papa, little Timmy and even Fido. I know the world is full of absurd crap like this, but I just don't get it.

The sueing for the hot coffee was legit. They should have been sued, not because the woman spilled it on herself, but because of the temperature of the coffee. They kepted the coffee as such a scalding heat, that the lady who spilled it on her lap had her flesh practically melt off. I saw a picture of the damage, not a pretty sight.

Indeed it was. She had tons of first degree burns and had to have many skingraph surgeries to repair her skin. To this day, I would bet the majority of Americans still mistakenly believe it was a frivolous lawsuit thanks to all the news this case received back then. There's a documentary about it and similar cases, I'm pretty sure.

And there's another problem right there. The damages were real and so was the lady's case but not only did McDonald's try to downplay the incident as a mere frivolous lawsuit but the media sided with them in perpetuating the misconception. Even though the judge got to make the call on that one the truth of the matter was lost to a lot of people.

Also the soda ban is fairly different in that it's a state level decision and not a national one. You can easily (metaphorically speaking) head to New Jersey to grab a Big Gulp (of seawater).

I knew I should have googled the degree of burns before I posted. I thought about it, then decided first sounded right. Hah. Thanks for the correction.

Yeah, first degree is, uhh, a sun burn. You'd probably cause more damage getting skin grafts for that than the sun actually inflicted. :P But yeah, the pictures were BAD, so it wasn't even like she got second degree burn and made a big deal over them.

As for the soda: I'm pretty sure it's CITY based, not even state wide. Of course, the city in question is New York City, so it's not like a state capital like Harrisburg did this.

On the subject of warning labels, I think my personal favorite is one I saw on a chainsaw recently warning you to 1. not turn the chainsaw on while holding it next to your leg and 2. not operate it while drunk.

On the subject of warning labels, I think my personal favorite is one I saw on a chainsaw recently warning you to 1. not turn the chainsaw on while holding it next to your leg and 2. not operate it while drunk.

Haha makes sense!

I always get annoying on the subway, where you basically see a warning for every goddamn move you might make.- Please, hold on to railing.- Please, mind your step.- Please, do not move while vehicle is in motion.- Please, mind the gap when subway arrives at the platform (which is like, to scale, this ___________________ wide in real life).

Even when a coffee cup warns you it's hot.... guaranteed because some asswipe sued for things in life that should kind of obvious.